Friday, November 30, 2007

The Candy Gram: Beatrix Von Bourbon

In our ongoing Q&A series --"The Candy Gram"-- we ask the same quirky questions of burlesque's various performers. If you want to be added to the mix, drop us a line at kellydinardo AT gmail DOT com. Today, say hello to London's Beatrix Von Bourbon.

What is your hometown?London, UK.

How long have you been interested in burlesque/performing?I tell people that I entered the world of burlesque through the back door. For me it wasn't as simple as having admired the performers of old for years and always aspiring to be one.

I had been looking at vehicles to express my sexuality and felt that amidst all the internet-based soft-core pornography and the darker sexualities that swamp the UK media (pedophilia, dogging...) something was missing. At the same time, I was reading about past subcultures, about punk, about psychobilly, about rockabilly, about the Las Vegas Grind Festival, and then I stumbled upon burlesque. The more I learned about American burlesque, and later learned about British burlesque, the more the art-form appealed to me.

I like how burlesque sits within contemporary culture, how it goes against the grain of the beauty myth - it embraces all bodies regardless of shape or race, and personalities from coy cheesecake to vivacious sex-kitten. It introduces playfulness and honesty to the somewhat seedy conceptions of sexuality that dominate today.

I've been performing burlesque for just over a year and a half now.

How many pairs of pasties do you own?One pair for each act I have (10), plus three spare pairs and a couple of odd ones. I'm not really sure why I hang on to odd pasties.

What are your three favorite songs to perform to?A La Carte - James HollowaySex Spider - Gogol BordelloAny live backing music provided by the wonderful Palookaville Burlesque Orchestra.

What three items could you not live without as a performer?Spare stockingsTit tape (I've used it to temporarily fix feather fans before!)Glitter, Glitter, Glitter!

Who had the biggest influence on your career?Relatively early on in my burlesque career I performed at a fetish club alongside Polish-based art group Suka Off. Although their work doesn't really fall into the burlesque bracket, they blew me away, offering a professional and creative level to aspire to.And to this day every burlesque performer I work with offers me a new trick of the trade.

Who is your favorite burly queen?Evangeline, the Oyster Girl

What is your favorite item of clothing?My killer red heels

What's the last movie you saw?Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas

What's on your must-see-TV list?Oh no, here's where it gets embarrassing. I watch a lot of American sitcoms and dramas that aren't aired in the UK. Things like Gilmore Girls, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Dead Like Me. I'm also a sucker for silly cartoons full of fart jokes; Robot Chicken and The Brak Show to name just two. I was also addicted to the Aussie soap Neighbours until I moved house and now don't have a powerful enough aerial to watch TV.

What book is on your nightstand?The Girls by Lori Lansen and Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee

If you could go anywhere for vacation, where would you go?New York. Without a doubt.

If you could have any superpower, which one would you want? Why?I'd quite like telekinesis, so I could multi-task - tidy my flat while I bring my correspondence up to date!

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